Traditional glucose monitoring in diabetic dogs and cats involves manual collection of blood for testing. Another option may be continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM.

CGM is currently used off-label in pets. A veterinarian applies the sensor to a shaved patch of skin on the pet’s upper back. Glucose levels are then measured every one to 15 minutes, and data are transmitted to a reader or smartphone for up to 15 days.

CGM can identify short- and long-term glucose trends. In addition, alerts to levels outside pre-set ranges allow for timely intervention.

However, CGM sensors can cost at least $200 per month. The limited range of sensor transmission to a data reader also means that data cannot be accessed remotely.

Veterinarians can help folks weigh the pros and cons to see if CGM may work for their pet.